Because they were easy to do... the control equipment was relatively compact, and many of the original electrics were done for tunnel electrifications, where with the short runs, there was an obvious savings in not having to turn the locomotive. It became the standard way to do things.

This carried over to early dieselization; the ALCO-IR-GE boxcabs were all double ended, basically trolley locomotives without the need for wires. But at some point, as the road switcher carbody began to gain favor, it was realized that a single cab would suffice; at first with dual controls, and then later without, when it was found that even if the engineer was on the "wrong" side, he still had adequate visibility. Passenger power running at speed, however, seemed to warrant having the operator's cab up front, and so were still built with two cabs. Passenger diesels had developed along the "building block" principle, so the same configuration could be had by coupling two units back-to-back. Heavy electrics tended to be designed with all the horsepower needed in one unit, so two cabs persisted.

I received a phone call tonight from Nick Kallas, executive director of the Illinois Railway Museum, telling me that the 945 is now officially off of Amtrak property in an "undisclosed location" (my words) in the Chicago area, awaiting joining with a couple other "inbound" pieces for delivery to the Illinois Railway Museum. I have his blessing to confirm that it's destined for their museum.

So we can stop doing this stupid Kabuki dance now.

IRM officially announced on Facebook this morning that they have acquired 945.

Included was the following statement that should put to rest the rumors:

"It was designed for operation on the high-voltage Northeast Corridor electrification system and, as it is not compatible with IRM’s 600-volt overhead wire system, is intended to be a static display piece at the museum’s site in Union."

folks,
if you look at IRM's Facebook pages you will find a picture of the locomotive and some other comments. It never got the AC motors that many of the other AEM-7s did. It was buit by the Electro-Motive Division at La Grange, Illinois in 1982. The IRM has PRR, New Haven and now Amtrak locos from the Northeast Coridor. Wow!

Proves once again that the Illinois Railway Museum is the most acquisitive museum in the country.

Now if they can only talk the Chicago Elevated
locomotive out of the Museum of Transport in St Louis and bring her home to Chicago.

Ted Miles, IRM Member

The AEM7 has been delivered to IRM's interchange. Check their facebook page for more information.